The Soaps! A Live Improvised Soap Opera (The Soaps) 2013 Toronto Fringe Review

Once again The Soaps! delivered. I saw them last year at Fringe and loved them. I was really looking forward to seeing them this year.

The Soaps! didn’t disappoint. They took on the ‘dirty underbelly’ of City Hall in Utopia. Not surprisingly Utopia city government looks a lot like Toronto’s and provides just as many laughs. The cast just makes it up as they go along – which sounds familiar. I think that happens at City Hall in Toronto too.

Christie Bruce is the show’s director, a job that must be a bit like herding cats. She makes it look easy.

There’s no point in me telling you what happened on stage yesterday. It’ll be different tomorrow. So that we can follow the story (such as it is) Bruce starts the show by introducing each character and telling the audience one or two things about them. The character then tells us a bit about themselves, why they’re at City Hall and what they do.Then they’re off and running.

The constant from show to show is the talented cast. They make improvisation look easy. They’re fast and funny and they keep the show careening along. I watch them in awe. So much talent.

Sometimes something will happen that wasn’t really intended and it will become a running gag on the show. I’m going to cherish ‘periphy vision’ and ‘do it in the light’ for a long time.

The Soaps! stepped in at the last minute to replace a show that cancelled so they aren’t in the paper program which makes it difficult for people to find performance times. The are in the online program so you can look it up there. Or print this review as a reference.

If you need reasons other than very funny and creative to go and see The Soaps! it’s a fundraiser for Fringe, and the George Ignatieff Theatre has really good air conditioning.

All individual Fringe tickets are $10 ($5 for FringeKids) at the door (cash only) and go on sale one hour before showtime. 50% of tickets are available in advance and are $11 ($9 + $2 service charge), these can be purchased online at www.fringetoronto.com, by phone at 416-966-1062 ext. 1, or in person during the festival at the Festival Box Office in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s (581 Bloor St W).